Decorative wall covering

Abstract

A wall covering comprising a plurality of plastic molded panels each having a relatively thin body portion formed with rows of simulated building elements. The panels are mounted on a support surface in a plurality of horizontal courses with a side marginal edge region of one panel overlapping and sealingly engaging an underlying side marginal edge region of the adjacent panel and a lower marginal region of a panel in one course overlying an upper marginal region of a panel in a lower course. Each panel is provided with frangible locating means for positively locating an interlock lip of the overlying panel in predetermined engaged relation with interlock flanges of an underlying panel. The interlock flanges of the panels are provided with reinforcement ribs to prevent breakage when the panels are exposed to weather extremes and undergo thermal expansion or contraction. Finally, each panel is provided with side interlock means which enhance the panel's resistance to buckling during installation and use.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A wall covering for mounting on a support surface comprising: a plurality of panels each having a body portion formed with simulated building elements; said panels each having upper and lower marginal edge regions;   said panels being mountable on said support surface in a plurality of horizontal courses with at least one of said panels in a first horizontal course having an upper marginal edge region underlying a lower marginal edge region of at least one of said panels in a second horizontal course positioned above the first horizontal course;   said upper marginal edge region including a plurality of interlock flanges and frangible locating means; and,   said lower marginal edge region including an interlock lip for positively engaging said interlock flanges of an underlying panel to positively interlock said at least one panel in said first course with said at least one panel in said second course; said interlock lip being engageable with said frangible locating means to positively locate said interlock lip at a point of intermediate engagement with said interlock flanges during installation to permit relative vertical movement between said overlying upper and lower marginal edge regions due to thermal expansion and contraction of said panels; and said frangible locating means being breakable by said interlock lip upon relative movement caused by contraction of said panels.   
     
     
       2. A wall covering as defined in claim 1 wherein the interlock flanges comprise a base portion extending outwardly from the upper marginal edge region and a relatively flat locking portion disposed substantially parallel to the surface of the upper marginal edge region. 
     
     
       3. A wall covering as defined in claim 1 wherein said frangible locating means comprises a plurality of laterally spaced locating lugs disposed between adjacent ones of said interlock flanges, said locating lugs being frangible to permit movement of said locating lip relative to said interlock flange during thermal contraction. 
     
     
       4. A wall covering as defined in claim 1 wherein the interlock flanges include reinforcement ribs adjacent to their base portions. 
     
     
       5. A wall covering as defined in claim 1 wherein each panel includes side interlock means for interlocking adjacent panels within a course. 
     
     
       6. A wall covering as defined in claim 5 wherein the side interlock means comprise a first projecting flange on a first side marginal edge region and an aperture defined in a second side marginal edge region opposite said first side marginal edge region, said aperture of a first panel being dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the first projecting flange of an adjacent panel. 
     
     
       7. A wall covering as defined in claim 6 wherein said aperture is positioned a distance inboard from a periphery of said second side marginal edge region to provide resistance to panel buckling during use and installation. 
     
     
       8. A wall covering as defined in claim 6 wherein the first projecting flange defines a slot for receiving a portion of said second side marginal edge of said first panel, said slot being open-ended to permit relative movement between said first and said adjacent panels during thermal expansion and contraction. 
     
     
       9. A wall covering as defined in claim 6 wherein said side interlock means further comprises a second projecting flange disposed on said first side marginal edge region, said second projecting flange defining an open-ended slot for receiving a portion of said second side marginal edge region of said adjacent panel. 
     
     
       10. A panel for building a decorative wall covering from a plurality of said panels mounted on a support surface in overlapping relation to form a plurality of substantially horizontal courses, said panel comprising: a body portion formed with simulated building elements;   a first marginal edge region disposed above said body portion and including a plurality of interlock flanges, said first marginal edge region further including frangible locating means for locating vertically adjacent panels in said wall covering in precise relation;   a second marginal edge region disposed beneath the body portion and including an interlock lip dimensioned for positively engaging said interlock flanges;   a third marginal edge region disposed at a first side of said body portion, said third marginal edge region defining an aperture; and,   a fourth marginal edge region disposed at a second side of said body portion opposite said first side, said fourth marginal edge region including a first projecting flange dimensioned to slidably engage said aperture.   
     
     
       11. A panel as defined in claim 10 wherein said interlock flanges comprise a base portion extending outwardly from the first marginal edge region and a relatively flat locking portion disposed relatively parallel to the surface of said first marginal edge region. 
     
     
       12. A panel as defined in claim 11 wherein the frangible locating means is positioned to positively locate the interlock lip of a first panel in said wall covering a distance from the base portion of the interlock flanges of a second panel in said wall covering to thereby accommodate for thermal expansion and contraction. 
     
     
       13. A panel as defined in claim 12 wherein said frangible locating means comprises a plurality of laterally spaced locating lugs disposed between adjacent ones of said interlock flanges, said locating lugs being frangible to permit movement of said locating lip of said first panel relative to said interlock flanges of said second panel during thermal contraction. 
     
     
       14. A panel as defined in claim 11 wherein the interlock flanges include reinforcement ribs adjacent to their base portions. 
     
     
       15. A panel as defined in claim 10 wherein said first projecting flange defines a slot for receiving a portion of said third side marginal edge region of said adjacent panel, said slot being open-ended to permit relative movement between said first and said adjacent panels during thermal expansion and contraction, and wherein said aperture is positioned a distance inboard from a periphery of said panel to resist panel buckling during use and installation. 
     
     
       16. A panel as defined in claim 10 further comprising a second projecting flange disposed on said fourth side marginal edge region, said second projecting flange defining a slot for receiving a portion of said third side marginal edge region of said adjacent panel. 
     
     
       17. A wall covering for mounting on a support surface, said wall covering comprising: a plurality of panels each having a body portion formed with simulated building elements; said panels each having first and second side marginal edge regions;   said panels being mountable on said support surface in a plurality of horizontal courses with at least one of said panels in a first horizontal course having a first side marginal edge region underlying a second side marginal edge region of an adjacent panel in said first horizontal course;   said first marginal edge region defining an aperture; and,   said second marginal edge region including a first projecting flange dimensioned to slidably engage said aperture in said first side marginal edge region of said adjacent panel to interlock said at least one panel and said adjacent panel to permit relative horizontal movement between said overlapping first and second marginal edge regions due to thermal expansion and contraction of said panels.   
     
     
       18. A wall covering as defined in claim 17 wherein said aperture is positioned a distance inboard from a periphery of said first marginal edge region to provide resistance to panel buckling during use and installation. 
     
     
       19. A wall covering as defined in claim 17 wherein the first projecting flange defines a slot for receiving a portion of said first side marginal edge region of said first panel, said slot being open-ended to permit relative movement between said first and said adjacent panels during thermal expansion and contraction. 
     
     
       20. A wall covering as defined in claim 17 further comprising a second projecting flange disposed on said second side marginal edge region, said second projecting flange defining an open-ended slot for receiving a portion of said first side marginal edge region of said first panel.